In a bid to boost food security in Kaduna State, A non governmental organization, Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN) in collaboration with Palm Valley Nigeria Limited organised a one day advocacy to key stakeholders on project update and sustainability models in Zonkwa of Zango Local Government Area of Kaduna state.
The convener of the meeting, Mr. Jenif Jesunyi Jonathan, emphasized on how supports from the WOFAN ICON2 project can be utilized appropriately and sustained for economic growth in communities through the beneficiaries.
Johnathan said that the rate of unemployment in the country is very high, and the program by WOFAN has been able to provide many women and youths in the communities with opportunities to build themselves and others.
In his opening remark on behalf of the Project Manager and CEO of Palm Valley Nigeria Limited, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of Palm Valley, Mr. Samson Reuben, reiterated on the need for women farmers to focus on fostering a positive perception of agriculture as a viable source of income.
Reuben urged them to take advantage of the ICON2 project which seeks to improve access to financial products and services for the individual farmers through cooperative structures, disengaging the presence of middle men and educating them on ways to improve on their farm produce for quality yield and bumper harvest.
Speaking during her keynote address, the State Team Lead, Kaduna 2, covering Jema’a, Zango and Kaura Local Government Areas, Mrs. Nana Blessing Sarki, explained the vision of the organization.
She said it is aimed at improving and sustaining standard of living for women and youth in rural communities in the country, urging t women farmers to take advantage of the projects established in their areas and make judicious use of of the initiative
The Team Lead Kaduna 2 opined that WOFAN ICON2 project has been designed to drive sustainable agricultural growth and economic development in 10 states in which Palm Valley Nigeria Limited is implementing in Benue, Nasarawa, and Kaduna states.
According to her, so far the project has over 65 thousands community partners annually comprising 80 percent women and 20 percent men to assist them develop themselves through cooperatives geared towards self reliance and sustainability.
” Under the WOFAN ICON2 Project In Kaduna state, 933 groups were provided farming inputs for 1 hectare each, 9 fully equipped processing centres have also been provided and various trainings are being carried out to build the capacity of our community partners in the 8 local government areas in the year 2024,” she said.
She emphasized that the ICON2 project aims to strengthen agricultural enterprise value chains, generate employment opportunities, and enhance income for women and youth farmers and processors.
Also speaking on the mission of the project, the State Team Lead, Kaduna one, covering five areas including Chikun, kajuru, Kachia and Jaba Local Government Areas, Mrs. Iveren Igbudu, buttressed on the effort of the organization in empowering the rural communities through the provision of embedded support services alongside farm implements and other processing machines to help improve on access to markets for women farmers in their rural communities.
Mrs. Igbudu cautioned them on improper use of these implements, mismanagement, theft, and diversion of some of the supports provided by the organization to the farmers.
She called on stakeholders to put all hands on deck to tackle the menace and safeguard them for the future generation.